The news at the moment seems to be focused on investigations.  As current investigations report and the first reaction in almost any situation is now to call for an enquiry, we seem to be addicted to going back over old decisions.  Now where there have been miscarriages of justice, such as Hillsborough, this is long overdue.  However, I wonder how much most decisions really stand up when you look back at them, taking into account the beauty of hindsight?  And how many people are truly independent and unbiased?  We are all shaped by our upbringing, environment and personality, that we will all have a view on most things before we start.  Sometimes it seems we set impossible standards.

Under the façade, secrets squirmed vigorously, sending ripples that jarred her heartbeat.  Was it possible that no-one else could hear it?  She upped her smile’s wattage.

Following my concerns re fancy dress, I was delighted that only 1 of my much-younger colleagues (other than the organiser that had suggested it) turned up in fancy dress.  I wonder whether the pressures of grade inflation, job-hunting, saving for deposits etc have turned generation Y rather more serious than previous generations.  Certainly, they didn't drink as much either...is good behaviour the new bad?  It does seem that those I'm seeing getting plastered now are closer to my age.  Maybe health warnings work after all...

Shiny fabric met concrete slick with the first fingers of frost, legs flailing drunkenly.  I watched her being pulled to her feet: further collapse seemed inevitable.

'Tis the season of parties and all of the minefields that come with them.  I felt very old at work when I felt uncomfortable wearing fancy dress to work - after all, it is work, the very anti-thesis of 'fun'...So, I thought I met them half-way and wore something rather fancier than average (and in red), only to find that only 1 person (other than the organiser herself) had worn fancy dress...felt so much better, that at least if I was miserable, I was amongst friends.

The invitation said ‘fancy dress’: she shuddered.   Etiquette already requires wearing a sociable mask and playing a part: why do we hate being ourselves so much?

Friends are wonderful things.  Especially when they believe in you and are prepared to support you with their name.  So, I was very flattered when the award-winning poet-about-town Judi Sutherland tagged me'n'my novel on her blog as a 'next big thing'.  Following that, I tag 5 more people and so it goes...so if you want me to tag your blog next, let me know...

1.       What is the working title of your next first book?

It's called Anchors and it's a novel - approx 80,000 words, but probably still needs some of them swapped around...

2. Where did the idea come from for the book?

I read a story about someone finding out they were adopted as a grown adult and wondering how I would react if told the same news.  From there, it grew to include two other characters who lose something fundamental to themselves.

3. What genre does your book fall under?

Don't categorise me darlings...I have really struggled with this question.  I was aiming for literary fiction, but think it might be general dark fiction, though definitely no vampires.

4. What actors would you choose to play the characters in a movie rendition?

There are three lead characters: Anna, a thirty year old career woman, who needs to be someone next-doorsy (that's Home Counties next-door, not Hollywood).  Then Christopher, a fifty year old hypocrite - he needs to be tall and thin, like an older version of Mackenzie Crook.  Finally, we need a 'Gent' a forty year old thug, so maybe a younger version of Ray Winstone...

5. What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?

Three people lose the thing that they believe defines them and must struggle to make sense of their changed world.

6. Is your book represented by an agency?

Not yet...open to offers!

7. How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?

I wrote bits and pieces over a couple of years, then the second half of the book in a concentrated period of about 6 months.  The editing is more time-consuming that I thought...

8. What other books would you compare this to within your genre?

I really enjoyed 'A Week in December' by Sebastian Faulks for the way he weaves the characters' stories together and connections that were not initially apparent fall seamlessly into place.

9. Who or what inspired you to write this book?

I had started it with no particular inspiration, then when my husband was due to be absent for 3 days on a course, I thought that this was a good opportunity to see whether I really wanted to finish it.  In those 3 days, I wrote nearly 10,000 words and was hooked.  Then the characters themselves started telling me their story and all I had to do was write it down.

10. What else about this book might pique the reader’s interest?

It should make you ask yourself how you would cope if these things happened to you...

A slap on the wrist yesterday - someone followed my blog...rather than celebrations, cue immediate guilt that I hadn't updated it for a while.  But is this a bad thing?  If I have nothing to say, should I say something anyway, for the sake of filling pages?  No, I don't think I should.  There have been enough cases of rash-tweeting recently to be a warning that keeping your mouth shut occasionally is a good thing.  So, to my first follower, thank you very much and welcome.  Just don't expect essays...

Her thoughts always crowded around, seeking attention, demanding to be put down on paper.  Once there, they would not lay quiet.  She pressed the ‘back’ button.

Today, I got a rejection for my novel from a literary agent.  This was not the first rejection note I have ever received and is unlikely to be the last.  

What did annoy me rather was that it was a standard email, of four lines, when they had had the submission (in their requested format) since March.  289 days to be precise.  Am I unreasonable in thinking that a little customisation could have been done in that time?  I always seek feedback, I always want to improve...if anything, I prefer criticism to praise, because it is more often genuine.  So, please, give me something...  

The door was ajar, a glimpse of dark, twisting corridor behind.  First step onto the threshold, when something shoved her.  She landed outside: the door slamming.

It is a very odd thing when you go back and read stories you wrote a while ago.  You remember all the effort you put in to finish them, then are surprised to find you don't understand something or can see a clumsy word.  When someone else comments, that is even more illuminating, when we see ourselves as other people see us and how our impression lingers.  That reminded me of an occasion where someone I met lingered rather too long...

The man didn’t know where he was going so took his time.  His memory worked through the senses, until at last the smell too had gone.